Ontario Tech University in Oshawa to host the 2024 U Sports national soccer championships
Published June 29, 2023 at 9:06 am
The Ontario Tech University campus is “buzzing” after the school won the rights to host the 2024 U Sports National Soccer Championships.
The eight-team event to be held over four days in November 2024 will be the Oshawa school’s first ever U Sports national championship event.
“Being awarded the 2024 men’s soccer championship has our campus and community buzzing,” said Ontario Tech Athletics and Recreation Director Scott Barker. “The City of Oshawa has been a proud partner throughout this entire bid process and is looking forward to welcoming the nation’s best players to Ontario Tech as part of the celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the City’s incorporation.”
Ontario Tech, which launched its Ridgebacks varsity soccer program in 2009, has hosted several provincial championships, most recently the OUA curling championships in March, while Durham College, which shares a campus with Ontario Tech, has hosted numerous national college competitions, including softball in 2015, baseball in 2016, soccer in 2019 and golf in 2012 and again last October.
The U SPORTS 2024-2025 men’s soccer championship tournament will take place at Vaso’s Field, a 1,500-seat stadium at Ontario Tech’s north Oshawa campus with a FIFA-approved artificial infill turf that was installed five years ago.
The Ridgebacks men’s varsity soccer team is coming off a stellar 2022-23 season where they topped the Ontario rankings with an 11-1 record and were seeded fifth in the nation before a heart-breaking shootout loss to Nipissing University in the quarter-finals.
The host Thompsons Rivers Wolfpack won this season’s national title with a shootout victory over UBC in an all-BC final in Kamloops and Barker is hopeful the Ridgebacks can repeat the process in 2024.
“Our team has been nationally ranked and a contender in the OUA in recent seasons, meaning they are ready for this next challenge,” he said. “As a committee, we look forward to hosting in 2024 and showcasing our Ridgebacks program on the national stage.”
Last season Chris Campoli became the first Ontario Tech athlete in any sport to be named U Sports Player of the Year and he and teammate Jacob Begley were both selected as first team All-Canadians.
The team had a record five OUA all-stars last year, while Ramin Mohammadi was named OUA Coach of the Year. Campoli and Trivine Esprit were also both selected by York United in the CPL draft.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the 2024 U SPORTS men’s soccer national championship at Ontario Tech University,” enthused Ontario Tech President Dr. Steven Murphy, who added he was “excited” to bring a national championship to Oshawa. “Sport helps teach valuable life skills like teamwork and discipline and contributes to self-confidence and responsibility. Our student-athletes are the civic leaders of tomorrow, and we are very proud to bring our entire community together to celebrate the success of soccer.”
Vaso’s Field, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa